24-Dec-2005 -- After the Wedding confluence – 14N 108E, the wish for the couple – Huy No and BMT2004 that they will soon have children, who are jokingly called run-by-milk GPS has become true. Althouh that kind of GPS is still being produced, we decide to take him/her together with us to visit 14N 109E to celebrate that happy event and welcome Xmas and new year.
That point lies in Tay Son town, Binh Dinh province. Tay Son is well-known as the starting place of the Tay Son Uprising and Tay Son dynasty from 1778 to 1802, under the leadership of King Quang Trung – Nguyen Hue and his two brothers.
In the Lunar New Year or Tết festival of 1789, in order to liberate the country from Chinese rule, Nguyen Hue made a brilliant surprised attack while the Qing Chinese invader were celebrating Tết festival. Nguyen Hue totally defeated the Chinese.
And now in the Solar New Year coming of 2006, we make an “operation” at a lightening speed to Binh Dinh to conquer such a confluence. Throwing away all bad news of storm and flood in Binh Dinh and Phu Yen province, we determine to weather the storm and go against the wind to record one more achievement for Vietnam GPS club.
At 7.00 AM, 24th December 2005, ten of us burst into laugh and happiness when gathering all at Dieu Tri train station - Binh Dinh. Weather is by our side, no rain after one week raining cats and dogs here.The sky is bright, dawning with some sunlight.
Mr.Vinh - the driver and his Mercedes-Benz 16-seat coach is friendly welcoming us. Vinh seems to be a connoisseur in food. He persistently drives us back to Qui Nhon city to have fish noodle soup for breakfast though that will be a waste of petrol for him when the way is 25kms longer than negotiated. And thanks to him, we have a delecious breakfast.
From Qui Nhon city, we go back to National Highway 1, head North to Ba Di Bridge corner and turn left into National Highway 19. NH19 is fairly smooth. Flood leaves no damage here. After cruising 21kms on NH19, we turn right to Provincial Road 636.
The road starts getting worse. Hard rains turn many parts of the concreted road into a soil one. The boggy paths continuously disturb our movement. We must get off the coach to check the soft wet path and decide whether it is safe to run through or not. The more we approach 14N 109E, the worse the road gets. And at last, the road reaches the worst. Our coach will be bogged down if attempting to pass. We must leave the coach here and rent four motorbikes to go on the journey.
It is easier now. However, sometimes, still do we have to get off the motorbike and walk in the mud since the motorbike will also be trapped too if it runs with three people on it. Our shoes and trousers are covered with mud and wet soil. But somehow, we enjoy it so much. We might not be so enthusiastic if the road is smooth and clean. It can be also considered as the first challenge for the run-by-milk GPS.
After some turns, when we are 320 mts from the target, there is no road for motorbikes. It is now turn for motorbikes to stop and rent our own feet to move. We walk by rice fields and pass a small bridge over a dam.
Eventually,at 11.15 AM, our long-expected point is right here. 14N109E lies in a plain land. We are excited to make all the numbers zero. There seems to be a stream of great pleasure running in our mind.
Surprisingly, on the way back, we find out there is a smoothly concreted road leading right to the point and we can drive our motorbikes here in stead of walking.
We succeed after all. See you, 13N 109E !